2014 football top 10 countdown

Are you ready for some football? We still have time to kill before the 2014 high school football openers, so kill it we will with a time-honored summer tradition: top 10 lists of Oregon's best high school football players. This is not meant to be scientific, but rather, one person’s opinion of the top 10 players at each position. The rankings are based on various factors: all-state and all-league teams, recruiting rankings and observations from the past season. Coaches were not consulted for their opinions.

However, we want to know your opinion. Are we right? Did we shank one into the bleachers? Is there someone missing? Please, sign in and tell us your opinion below. At the end of each week, you’ll also have an opportunity to vote on the top 10 list, so be sure to frequently return for updates.

No. 7, Derek Parnell, sr., Southridge: Parnell is an all-purpose football package for Southridge, as 5-9, 180-pounder figures to be prominent in the Skyhawks offensive back, one of the Metro League’s top kick returners, but most importantly, an elite cornerback. Parnell was a second-team Metro selection a year ago, and reportedly turned in several eye-catching performances at football camps this offseason.

No. 8, Dezmond Stoudamire, sr., Centennial: You may recognize this last name from Portland’s long, long line of basketball stars. Dezmond is also a basketball standout, but not bad on the gridiron, either. The 5-11, 170-pound Stoudamire will be a weapon on both sides of the ball for Centennial, but particularly on defense, where he’s a returning all-Mt. Hood Conference cornerback.